FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Calvin Green, Court Operations Consultant @307-4798

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CELEBRATE AND HONOR ADOPTIVE FAMILIES
ON NOVEMBER 12TH

(TAMPA, FLORIDA - 11/9/04) – Three year old Jacquez sat poised on the lap of the Honorable Katherine Essrig a few days ago when the judge told a smiling new adoptive mother that she could take her son home, which was just where he wanted to go, via a short detour to McDonald's. Jacquez is full of life, quick to point out his medic alert bracelet and the fact that he must avoid peanuts and orange juice; he's happy to be in the courtroom, he's happy to see the judge. Dawn Hunter, HKI Care
Manager, testifies with a smile beaming across her face. If Jacquez' and his mother, Ms Rozetta Tibbs' reaction is any indication of the joy to be anticipated by the special proceedings this Friday, November 12, 2004, in recognition of National Adoption Day, those present in the George Edgecomb Courthouse, in Courtroom 1, are in for a rare treat. Chris Card, CEO of Hillsborough Kids, Inc., will begin the ceremony, which will include remarks by Editha Herring, a teen adoptee, and Rev.
Greg Powe, Sr. Pastor, Revealing Truth Ministries. During the opening ceremony the names of over 190 children still waiting for adoptive families will be called out.

Beginning at 10:00 a.m., Judge Katherine Essrig, Judge Martha Cook and Judge J. Kevin Carey will take the bench and preside over more than 30 adoptions. Judge Essrig affirms, "This is a special day when all we do is adoptions, which is a positive side of what we do." She reveals further, "We see children who have come from misfortune in various ways but now they have achieved permanency and are being adopted by loving and nurturing parents and becoming part of a family!" Essrig contends the importance of National Adoption Day is to let everyone know how
special they are and how much we value them.

Last year HKI found adoptive homes for 192 children. Today, 399 children have a goal of adoption because the court has already granted termination of parental rights, but 217 do not have an identified family. That's why HKI organized efforts for this day, because these children are waiting for prospective homes. The process to become an adoptive parent includes background checks, Model Approach to
Partnerships in Parenting (MAPP) training and home studies. The entire process can usually be completed within eight months. For more information about adoptions in Hillsborough County, contact Bridgett Barno at Camelot Community Care, 635-9765.